Lesson plan

Duesenberg

Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Company, Inc. was an American racing and luxury automobile manufacturer founded in Indianapolis, Indiana, by brothers Fred and August Duesenberg in 1920. The company is known for popularizing the straight-eight engine and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. At its peak, Duesenberg was considered as the pinnacle of American luxury cars and engineering. A Duesenberg car was the first American car to win a Grand Prix race, winning the 1921 French Grand Prix. Duesenbergs won the Indianapolis 500 in 1922 (when eight of the top ten finishers were Duesenbergs), 1924, 1925 and 1927. Transportation executive Errett Lobban Cord acquired the Duesenberg corporation in 1926, leading the development of the coveted Model J, which became a popular status symbol for the American and European nobility, rich, and famous. The company was sold and dissolved in 1937. It was the only automotive company to go bankrupt in the Great Depression and not be rescued by the US government, largely due to a political move due to New Deal policies avoiding the imagery of helping the richest, despite Duesenberg being the largest employer in Indianapolis at the time. In the modern era, Duesenbergs are highly sought after as collectable automobiles, with many surviving models being among the most valuable cars in the world.

Back to article

Article summary

Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Company, Inc. was an American racing and luxury automobile manufacturer founded in Indianapolis, Indiana, by brothers Fred and August Duesenberg in 1920. The company is known for popularizing the straight-eight engine and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. At its peak, Duesenberg was considered as the pinnacle of American luxury cars and engineering. A Duesenberg car was the first American car to win a Grand Prix race, winning the 1921 French Grand Prix. Duesenbergs won the Indianapolis 500 in 1922 (when eight of the top ten finishers were Duesenbergs), 1924, 1925 and 1927. Transportation executive Errett Lobban Cord acquired the Duesenberg corporation in 1926, leading the development of the coveted Model J, which became a popular status symbol for the American and European nobility, rich, and famous. The company was sold and dissolved in 1937. It was the only automotive company to go bankrupt in the Great Depression and not be rescued by the US government, largely due to a political move due to New Deal policies avoiding the imagery of helping the richest, despite Duesenberg being the largest employer in Indianapolis at the time. In the modern era, Duesenbergs are highly sought after as collectable automobiles, with many surviving models being among the most valuable cars in the world.

Key claims

  1. date of establishment: 1913 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  2. date of formation: 1906 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  3. date of foundation: 1920 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. The record states that the date of establishment is "1913". What evidence would count against this claim?
  3. The record states that the date of formation is "1906". What evidence would count against this claim?
  4. The record states that the date of foundation is "1920". What evidence would count against this claim?
  5. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  6. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

  1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370252211

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.